"Women Sisters, Not Servants", Pope Francis Fosters Debate and Dialogue

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sebastien-maillard/pope-francis-women_b_7480642.html

Bridget Mary's Response: Yes, Pope Francis is moving the 
Vatican from the Middle Ages' patriarchal
 hostility toward women to the 21st century: 

"women are "sisters, not servants."

His advocacy for equal pay is a major step toward 
gender justice for women everywhere. 
Open debate is healthy and indicates a 
change in tone toward women's 
empowerment at the Vatican. 
Now if women priests were invited 
to join the conversation,
that would really be a big shakeup!
We are living Gospel equality in grassroots, 
inclusive communities now.

So, the bottom line is---
 until Roman Catholic Church 
treats women as equals in every area of ministry, 
including priesthood, women will remain 
second class citizens in our own house. 

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP greets members of
Mary Mother of Jesus Catholic Community 

ROME -- "It may just seem like some nice talking with no action taken, 
yet it is striking to notice: in the past weeks, the Vatican has been 
hosting, organizing or involved in a series of seminars, colloquiums 
and conferences -- all dealing with women. 
The latest event, among several, dealt with ways the Catholic Church 
addresses the various conditions of women worldwide today. 
It was held within the Vatican City State and organized by the Vatican's newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, and its monthlysupplement on women.

"Women are too often looked upon in the Church as servants and not as sisters, 
who are as much in charge as brothers," said Lucetta Scaraffia, 
editor at the L'Osservatore Romano. 
She launched a debate last year stating it was 
theologically possible to create women cardinals.

Pope Francis joked about the idea. 
But the fact that he is letting 
these discussions develop in the Vatican itself shows 
he is looking for new ways to empower women 
inside the church and is not satisfied with the 
present situation."